Wrench



J. ziLLlox Aug. 23, 1927.

WRENCH Filed March 1'. 1926 Patented Aug. 23, 1927.

PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN zILLiox. or ORCHARD PARK, NEW YORK.

' WRENCH.

Application filed March 1, 1926. I Serial No. 91,323.

This invention relates to a wrench and more particularly to a wrench having two jaws which are moved one relatively to the other by means of an externally screw threaded shank formed on the front jaw and an internally threaded handleengaging with the threaded shank and coupled with the rear jaw so that upon turning this handle these aws will be either moved toward or away from .each other. A wrench of this type is shown in my pending application for U. S. Patent No. 666,621 filed 1923.

It is the object of this invention to provide improved means for coupling the handle with the rear jaw in a manner which is simple and less expensive, and also to so organize these coupling means that they may be utilized for locking the two jaws delinitely against movement relatively to each other after they have been adjusted and thereby prevent displacement while the wrench is in use.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a wrench embodying my improvements. D

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section of the same showing the handle locked against turnlIl Figures 3 and 4 are cross sections taken on the correspondingly numbered lines in Figs. 2 and 1, respectively. I

Figure 5 is a fragmentary longitudinal section similar to Fig. 2 but showing the handle unlocked so that the same can be turned for adjusting the distance between the aws. 1 Similar characters of reference indicate like parts in the several figures.

The. numeral 10 represents the front aw of the wrench and 13 the rear jaw of the same, which jaws may have their opposing sides or faces constructed of any suitable form for gripping the parts which are to be engaged and turned thereby. The front jaw is provided with a rearwardly projecting shank 11 which, as shown in the drawings, is formed integrally therewith, but if desired the same may be made separate and attached to the front jaw in any suitable and approved manner. The front part of this shank is made square or of other prismatic form in cross section and engages with the correspondingly shaped opening 14 in the rear jaw whereby these jaws are guided relatively to each other but held against turning. On its October 4,

rear part the shank 11 is provided with an external screw thread 12.

' Projecting rearwardly from the rear jaw is a tubular neck 15 which surrounds the guide opening 14 and is provided with an which engages with the external screw thread 12 of the shank hereinbefore mentioned.

'lhefront end of the handle is arranged close-t0 the rear end of the neck 15 and immediately in rear of its front end the handle is provided with an annular groove 18 in which is seated a ring 19 which forms an annular rearwardly facing shoulder on this handle. This ring is preferably constructed of spring metal and provided at one point with a split, as shown in Fig. 3, so that the same can be sprung into the groove 18 ofv the handle and thereby readily assemble these parts. By this means a rearwardly facing shoulder is formed on the handle in a manner which requires less metal than if this shoulder were formed integrally on the handle, and also enables this portion of the wrench to be made more rapidly and at reduced cost. Surrounding the neck of the rear jaw and the front part of the handle is a coupling sleeve 20 which forms part of the means for adjusting the two wrench jaws relatively to each other and also looking the same against displacement after such adjustment. The bore 21 in the rear part of this sleeve is of cylindrical form and receives the cylindrical front part ofthe handle 16 which turns in this bore 21 as a bearing. The front part of this sleeve is provided with an internal screw thread 23 which engages with the external screw thread 26 on the neck. Betweenthe cylindrical bore 21 and the internal screw thread 23 of the sleeve is formed a forwardly The sleeve 20 and the parts associated the rear. end of the neck 15.

therewith are so organized that when this sleeve is turned forwardly until it is tight the engagement of its shoulder 22 with the rear side of the split ring 19 will cause the front end of the handle 16 to be pressed firmly against the rear end of the neck. 15 and thereby securely lock the wrench in its adjusted position so that its jaws will not become displaced while in use or while the wrench is being handled. It is possible-for the sleeve 20 to thus press the front end of the handle against the rear end of the neck 15 but leaving suflicient clearance space between the front end of the sleeve 20 and the rear side ofthe rear aw when the parts are in their locked or clamped position, as shown in: Figs. 1 and 2.. When it is desired to adjust the wrench the sleeve 20 is first turned backwardly so. that it is unlocked slightly and to a. sufficient extent to relieve the. pressure, of its shoulder 22 against the spring 19 and thereby release the frictionalengagement of the front end of the handle. 16 with I \Vhen thus released the handle may be turned in one direction or the other and thereby carry the rear aw either toward. or from the front jaw through the medium of the coupling which connects, the rear jaw with the handle and when the desired spacing between the two jaws has been obtainedthe same may be held in this position by"'agai'1i"turning the" sleeve forwardly socasto clamp the. handle on the rear jaw as before described. By means of the stop; device consisting of the notch 24 on the sleeve 20 and. the pin. 25 on the neck engaging with this notch the. coupling sleeve 20 is permanently connected with the rear jaw and still permitted to. be turned slightly forwardly and rearwardly the requisite extent for locking and. unlocking the handle on, the rear jaw, without, however, producing an objectionable looseness between the handle and the rear jaw which otherwise might interfere with the ready and. convenient adjustment of the jaws to obtain the desired opening, between them.

It will be apparent from the foregoing be conveniently locked in this position so asto positively retain them in place and thereby avoid constant re-adjustment as is Y the case in wrenches in which the jaws are liable to become displaced while being handled or thrown around.

Furthermore this advantage is attained in a manner which is not complicated but rather simple and inexpensive and also results 111: the productionof a wrench which has a. comparatively smooth exterior so that it-is not liable to interfere with other parts while in use or when stowed away and also permits of being manipulated without dan i. wrench comprising a front aw a shank projecting rearwardly from the front. :jaw and provided. ,with an external screw thread, a rear jaw provided with an opening which receives said shank and a rear wardly projecting tubular neck surrounding said opening and. having an external screw thread, a tubular handle having an internal screw thread which receives the external thread of. said shank and also provided with an. external annular groove,. a

' split" spring ring arranged said 'groove and forming arearwardly facing shoulder,

a coupling sleeve the rear part of which surrounds said handle and the central part of which is provided with an internal forwardly facing shoulder engaging the rear side of said ring and the front part of which has an internal screw thread engagingthe external thread. of said neck, the. connection of said sleeve with said neck being constructed to permitof drawing said handle forwardly so that the front end of the latter is clamped against the rear end of said neck and the handle is therebyheld against turning, and means for permitting said sleeve tomake only a partial turn on said. neck comprising a notch arranged at the front end of said sleeve, and a stop projecting laterally from said. neck into said notch.

In testimony whereof; I hereby aflix my signature.

JOHN ZILLIOX.. 

